UK Column

PD Lawton explains the African Integrated High-Speed Railway Network — a 2013 project to electrify and connect all of Africa by rail. Ethiopia and Tanzania are already building; China partners genuinely on a win-win basis, whilst the West pushes a "debt trap" propaganda narrative to block development and keep Africa extracting minerals rather than industrialising. Western media ignores it almost entirely, and the main missing ingredient is political will. https://africanagenda.net

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Jerm and Todd Hayen chat about gay marriage. They distinguish between state vs religious marriage—Todd says he does not care for any state institution and Jerm questions the purpose of marriage. They then pivot to AI. They debate whether it is just algorithms or if it is something more worrisome. Todd warns about soul-starved dehumanisation if we lose human connection. They also touch on COVID compliance, mass formation theory, and why some people see through the narratives while others do not.

Jason Smith and Silk & Steel Podcast host Carl Zha explore the extraordinary story of China's transformation—from the Japanese occupation and Chinese Civil War to Mao-era nation building, Deng Xiaoping's reforms, and the modern economic miracle.

The English Democrats observe that Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have their own national parliaments and First Ministers, but England has no Parliament, no First Minister, no representation, and no voice. Leader of the English Democrats Robin Tilbrook speaks expertly on how history, constitutional law, legal law, and political manoeuvring have alienated and suppressed the political voice of the English people.

Mike Robinson is joined once again by journalist Vanessa Beeley for a wide-ranging conversation covering the latest developments in Syria, Lebanon, and Iran, and Britain's role across the region.They begin with the latest US–Iran developments, including a reported agreement and Trump's renewed strikes on Iran.

Jerm, Mike, and Charles explore holistic health and diet, the psychology behind exhaustion, and the need for empathy in health discussions. They then shift to how media frames conflicts like Ukraine, vaccine controversies, Big Pharma's economic role in Africa, and cultural attitudes toward authority, before they touch on Africa's tech growth and the future of digital currency.

Foreign Secretary announces support for Gaza with new child medical evacuations and assistance to Palestinians going to top UK universities - GOV.UK Time to Act campaign launched – Churches Together in England Israel continues to commit genocide and other atrocity crimes by deliberately targeting Palestinian children | OHCHR Burnham could become PM on 17 July based on Labour leadership contest timetable – as it happened | Politics | The Guardian 14:10 Starmer: Could be heading for United...

Chris Waldburger argues that Nietzsche and Christianity can be reconciled — that Nietzsche's antagonism towards the faith is far more complex than the cartoon version of "God is dead, I am the Antichrist" suggests, and that a close reading reveals his thought actually opens a path back to a more genuine, robust Christianity. https://www.chriswaldburger.com

P.D. Lawton argues that conflicts like Boko Haram are synthetic, Western-backed insurgencies designed to keep African states weak while corporations extract minerals cheaply — She cites the PMC Executive Outcomes, which routed Boko Haram in four weeks before it was dismissed so the insurgency could continue.